Month: July 2011

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is not an automatic death sentence! Franny, our lovely adoption-promoting friend and Guide of About.com Cats, has a very personal, detailed article posted on her site with that title. She knows how a positive result from an FIV test can be devastating to a cat owner – she herself went through it with her cat Shannon, who shared her life and her heart for 19 years. Shannon (in the photo at left) tested positive for FIV two years before he died, and Franny tells how her first instinct was to learn everything she could about the FIV virus. Her second instinct was to share it all her About Cats Guide readers, and she’s done a wonderful job! She answers such important questions that arise when the test results first come in: How could my cat have FIV? What can I do? How long does he have? I thought he had been vaccinated against FIV. Isn’t there some miracle medication he can take? She talks about the FIV Diagnosis, the different tests vets use to confirm the antibodies are present, and what an owner can do once the tests confirm that your cat does have FIV. You can click here to read Franny’s two page Cat FIV article in full. Thank you Franny, for sharing your experience to help other cat owners who’s cats have FIV!

I’ve been curious about Reiki for some time, ever since I read about a farm animal, I think a horse or a cow, getting helped at the Gentle Barn by a series of Reiki sessions. I’ve always been fascinated by scientific studies on plants that show how intention can affect a plants growth. Intention has been studied by philosophers, theologians, and legal scholars for centuries, but scientific interest is relatively new – and its spreading to fields as diverse as chocolate production, and in the case of cats and Reiki – animals! It might sound a little “out there” but I’m a big believer that there is a lot more in the world that we don’t know, than we do. And anything safe that could potentially help a sick or hurting animal is worth exploring. One of our favorite cat bloggers, The Conscious Cat,  has a great article that talks about the use of Reiki on cats. As a Reiki Master Practitioner, she explains “Reiki is a hands-on healing method that originated in Japan.  The practitioner channels healing energy through her hands to a person or a pet through a light touch either directly on the body or from a distance.” She goes on to add, “Animals, especially cats, are naturally receptive to the Reiki energy and tend to gravitate toward it readily.  Although it may be a little far-fetched, some people even say cats invented Reiki.   Cats are sensitive to energy, and because of this, they are ideal recipients for any kind of energy therapy, including Reiki.” You can read the rest of The Conscious Cat’s article on Cat Reiki here.

Several times our AdoptaPet.com staff and outside adoption experts have covered how to pick the RIGHT pet for your home. We do like focusing on the positive actions you can take, but it’s important to know what to avoid doing too! So we’ve matched some common mistakes that can result in picking the wrong pet, with some suggestions of how to avoid making them. You want the result of your pet-selection process to be that you and your family choose a pet that is the best possible match for your home and lifestyle. So along with being prepared for the work that it can take in the beginning with any new pet, knowing what common mistakes that enthusiastic, often first-time future pet owners make when they pick a pet to adopt, you can do your best to avoid them! Here they are, to help you avoid picking the wrong pet…

1. Don’t decide on a breed of pet that sounds like the best match for your home, without taking into consideration the often WIDE variation in physical and personality characteristics of individual pets. Make sure to spend time and get to know the actual pet you are going to adopt as much as possible, before deciding to adopt that individual pet.
2. Don’t adopt a new pet without doing some self reflection, planning and research first. How much time do you have in your life right now to bring in a new pet that may require training? Are you financially ready if your new pet is injured, or gets sick? For more questions to ask yourself, see our past blog article Tips to Finding the Perfect Family Pet.
3. Don’t make an impulse decision on-site. It can be overwhelming at a shelter when there are so many adorable furry faces begging you with their sad yes to “pick me pick me” and take them home! If you get emotional in a shelter setting, take a more objective family member or friend along to make sure you are making as good and rational choice of a match for your lifestyle and pet experience.
4. Don’t let your kids sway you to pick an inappropriate pet. While involving your children in the pet adoption selection and adoption process is a wonderful way to teach them about responsible pet ownership and many other important life lessons, you as the adult need to make sure the pet you adopt is a good selection. Do involve children in age-appropriate decision-making parts of the adoption process: they can help pick out the new pet’s toys, or a color of collar, and certainly making sure they and the pet get along is important too! See our past blog article for more ideas at: What Can Adopting A Pet Teach Your Children.

We hope these four tips will help you avoid picking the wrong pet, and find the right pet for you to adopt!

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Texan. Originally from a small town in Texas, and now with my parents living in Austin, I admit I pay attention to what goes on there because my family is there, my roots are there. But I’m also paying attention because Austin, Texas is doing great work to help animals. That’s what this article is about: getting inspired to do something, small or large, in our own towns today to help our local shelter animals. Now, it may be hot down there but it’s also a great place to live – especially if you’re a shelter pet. Austin has frequently been named one of the most pet-friendly communities in the country, and not too long ago, they decided to move full steam ahead on path to become a “No Kill” city! The Texas-capital’s accomplishments are in no small part due to rescue groups, animal shelters, leaders, politician and citizens working together to utilize their advocacy, skills, and heart to help their homeless pet population.

There are many fantastic organizations and innovative people doing great work for the animals, but here are various groups I discovered that are helping Austin achieve “No-Kill” status.

Austin Pet’s Alive is a non-profit volunteer organization committed to promoting and providing the resources, education and programs needed to eliminate the killing of companion animals. It’s hard to believe, but this 501c3 is run almost exclusively by dedicated volunteers who develop innovative and progressive programs to assist Austin and Central-Texas in becoming no-kill. Austin Pet’s Alive both focuses on helping healthy, treatable animals in shelters and helps owners who are having problems with their own pets so as to decrease owner relinquishment. They are their own rescue group and find great homes for the many pets in their care, especially those who have been overlooked, through their various programs including an active foster system, mobile events and the upcoming Adoption Resource Center building they will soon open. Austin Pets Alive also work closely with the Town Lake Animal Shelter so that their city can achieve a save/adoption rate of 90% or more for all pets entering shelters.

Teeny’s Friends collects toys for needy dogs. Their goal is simple: to make sure that no dog ever has to go without the simple pleasure of chasing a ball or snuggling a plushie. They raise money by doing toy drives and their buy-one-donate-one designed toy program. All the toys they gather are then donated to rescue groups, animal shelters, and families in low income neighborhoods – all with pooches who need a little mental stimulation that only a toy can bring. Teeny’s Friends helps promote adoption retention and gives back to homeless pets.

We all know sterilizing our pets is one of the most responsible things we can do to solve pet overpopulation. Emancipe+ offers high volume, high quality spaying and neutering for pets who live in the City of Austin and Travis County. They offer free spay and neuter at their mobile clinic on Thursdays and Saturdays. They also offer a low-cost clinic for those who are can afford to pay for the low-cost services, and all surgeries are performed by licensed veterinarians. The City of Austin/Travis County Animal Funding provides sponsorship for this program and donations are welcome. Emancipe+ will also now be offering low cost, walk-in wellness clinics for dogs or cats who are already spayed or neutered so that local communities can have access to more affordable basic care such as vaccines and preventative medicine.

The Austin Humane Society is helping feral cats (also known as free-roaming cats) as they are the largest cause of pet overpopulation in Austin. Their Free Roaming Cat Program has already sterilized and vaccinated more than 15,000 feral cats since 2007. They are currently the only program offering free feral cat sterilization in their community and are calling on every-day citizens to get involved and be a part of the solution. The cats are humanely trapped, sterilized for free, and then returned to their colonies safely and effectively. In 2009, the feline euthanasia rate in Austin dropped more than 40% due in larger part to the contribution of their feral cat Trap-Neuter-Return Program!

Love-a-Bull is dedicated to educating and advocating in Austin and beyond, on behalf of the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Terrier, and Bull Terrier (all breeds commonly referred to as “pit bulls”) and pit bull mixes. Their mission is to promote responsible ownership and improve the image of pit bulls in the community. Their strategy is to lead by example and so they started an all-pittie therapy group, The Pit Crew. These pitties and their handlers visit children and adults in need, providing therapeutic interaction that can improve mood, build confidence, and repair hearts.

In some ways, what can help homeless pets most is spreading the word that they are sentient beings with personalities, preferences and individual characteristics. Virtual Petwork is a social networking site catering to pets – it’s a way for Texas pets to connect with their pet pals. Pets can blog, join groups, chat on a message board, discuss [or complain about!] their parents, write on their pet pal’s wall, and support their favorite animal charity among other activities. The Virtual Petwork is giving voices to animals, something us pet owners already do. By helping make sure other people get it too, and including an adoption corner available to members, they’re helping promote adoption and shift perspectives.

These are just some of the many, many resources I found when researching animal welfare and the progress this city is making; there are plenty more terrific groups and organizations out there. There is a lot we can learn from Austin, and I urge other volunteers in other towns to do their part in helping homeless pets near them. It seems when it comes right down to it, what I believe is making Austin successful in their efforts is that people are uniting to make a difference for the animals in their community. I guess it really does take a village – even if it’s a really hot one.

Home. Some cats and dogs never have one to call their own. PeoplePets.com would like to help change that by introducing you to an extraordinary homeless pet from Adopt-a-Pet.com every month. This month it’s Indira, who’s being fostered for a local rescue group by one of our own Adopt-a-Pet.com staff! Indira is a sweet-natured senior dog who may have missed her calling as a supermodel. This 7-lb. Chihuahua has legs made for the catwalk. “Some Chihuahuas have little short legs, she’s got long legs,” says foster mom. Much like a sashaying model, “she floats when she trots.” The 10-year-old pooch was at a Pasadena, Calif., shelter when Molly’s Mutts & Meows animal rescue scooped her up in May. The housetrained and well-mannered pooch was obviously someone’s pet, judging by her skills. “She’s trained to wait at the door and only go out when you say, ‘Okay, go,'” says Warner.

“She’s a little doll, one of the easiest fosters I’ve ever had,” she adds. Quiet and super friendly, Indira loves other animals and is great with gentle, calm children. “I call her Miss Social,” says Warner. “Because everyone that passes on walks she’s like, ‘Hi, hi, hi, hi.'”

The cuddly canine (who will “jump in your lap if you invite her”) has a unique white stripe on her shiny black coat, reminiscent of her namesake Indira Gandhi. And like the famous Indian politician, “She’s very politically correct in everything that she does.”

If Indira sounds like the model canine you’ve been looking for, fill out an application on the Molly’s Mutts & Meows website. To view her full profile on Adopt-a-Pet.com, click here.

 

 

If you’re a resident of Florida’s Emerald Coast area and looking for a four-legged addition to your family, let us draw your attention to Chula, a 10-month-old German Shepherd/American Bulldog mix recently rescued from a kill shelter. Chula is a medium-sized pooch who will be about 60 or 70 pounds when she’s done growing. She’s a very sweet pup with an eager-to-please personality. Although Chula does require frequent walks and regular exercise, her temperament is calm and gentle. Chula gets along well with children and other dogs. She hasn’t had any experience with cats, but she is very submissive, so we think she could learn to befriend a feline or two.

Chula walks well on a leash and understands basic commands. She’s both house and crate training, spayed, and up-to-date on all shots. To learn more about Chula, visit Alaqua Animal Rescue and Adopt-a-Pet.com.

I dare you to watch these two videos without being totally inspired.  Recently, our own Laurie Wisneski and her husband Frank opened their home to a special foster dog named Chauncy.  Frank, a photographer, volunteers his time with United Hope for Animals, taking amazing photos of the animals in the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter.

This first video is the “before” video.  It was taken when Chauncy, then called Champ, was still in the shelter, and was used to network him to rescuers and adopters.  As you can see, Chauncy was absolutely terrified.  Even while in the arms of a volunteer, he was trembling uncontrollably.  What you can’t see is that, while he was in his kennel at the shelter, he was an absolute wreck.  He was curled up in the corner, shaking, unable to deal with the stress of being in the shelter environment.  Luckily, Frank saw something in this little guy and when he returned to the shelter the following week and found that Chauncy was still there, he knew that he and Laurie were Chauncy’s only hope of making it out of the shelter alive.  So…check out this video first.

Pretty pathetic, am I right?  Well, prepare yourself to be amazed.  You see, this is Chauncy just a couple of weeks later:

I don’t know about you, but I got a little teary when I watched that.  There are two important take-aways here:

1.  It is very difficult to get a true read on a pet’s personality while they’re in a stressful shelter environment.  Some dogs, wonderful dogs like Chauncy, just simply cease to function when surrounded by constant barking, people walking by the kennels, volunteers cleaning and feeding and bringing in new animals all the time, etc.  Coupled with the shock and grief of being abandoned by their owners or having been lost on the streets, it’s more than they can take.  Sometimes this stress and terror makes an otherwise sweet and docile pet appear to be aggressive.  Other times, like in Chauncy’s case, the dog simply retreats to the back of the kennel, curls up into a ball, and tries not to be noticed.  Unfortunately, when dogs aren’t noticed, they aren’t adopted.  So, take-away #1 is this:  please give these scared dogs, even those who are labeled aggressive, a very close look.  More often than not, there’s a diamond in that piece of coal.  (For an AMAZING, extreme example of a seemingly aggressive dog’s transformation, watch my friend Eldad Hagar’s video about a dog named Chase. Then, like I always do, spend the next six hours watching all of Eldad’s other astounding and inspiring videos!)

2.  You can be part of an amazing transformation like this.  Become a foster home!  I can’t tell you what an amazing feeling it is to watch a dog like Chauncy or Chase blossom in front of your eyes, and knowing that without you, they would never have had the chance to live, let alone become a cherished part of someone’s family.  Fostering is addictive.  Once you’ve made that difference in an animal’s life, you’ll be hooked.  And that’s one healthy habit!  Find out for yourself: call your local shelter or rescue group (and fill out a volunteer profile on Adopt-a-Pet.com!) and ask about fostering.

OH!  Adorable Chauncy is available for adoption in the Southern California/Los Angeles area.  Please check out his information here!

Summertime is full of sunshine and often families like to take a vacation. It can be stressful to know what to do with your animals when you go away, especially if you’d like to try to take them with you. When it comes to small pets such as gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and mice, most do not enjoy travel and sometimes keeping them at home with a pet sitter can be the ideal situation. However if you would like to take your small pets with you on a trip, do not fear it can be done! Coordinating and planning the whole process ahead of time will likely make it an easier, smoother experience for everyone. For a few tips on creating a stress-free vacation with your pocket pet click that link! Also make sure you remember to bring your little furry friend’s medical records just in case its needed on your vacation. Preparing the basics is a great way to ensure your small pets can be kept safe and comfortable as you head out of town.

If you’re currently looking for a small pet to adopt click here!

It may not be something we think about too often, but it is important to pay special attention to keeping pet safe around your home windows. As the temperature rises for summertime, many people begin leaving their windows open for ventilation not realizing their animals can actually fall out. What if Fido sees another dog walks by and presses up against your screen to get closer? Or a squirrel is torturing your cat from a branch just outside? According to the Home Safety Council, tens of thousands of preventable injuries occur in the home each year, and many involving windows. Click here to read some simple window safety tips that will help keep all your pets safe and prevent unpredictable accidents from happening.

Gerbils are social animals used to living in packs. As a matter of fact, if you have a gerbil, consider rescuing another! They prefer to live in pairs or small groups and it will increase their lifespan as well as their happiness to have other gerbil friends around. They will commonly interact with each other by boxing, jumping, and chewing which are all ways in which they love to play. These little furballs tend to be very active and need mental physical exercise. It’s easy to make sure you’re keeping your gerbil(s) entertained with the many good toys out there, most often toys which incorporate climbing or exploring — 2 more activities gerbils love to do! Keep your adopted gerbil mentally stimulated and having some fun using exercise wheels, run-about balls, tunnels and hiding toys, dust baths, and gerbil-designed chew rings and toys. Avoid to toys made out of soft plastic or any other non-gerbil-safe materials that can be chewed and swallowed, causing intestinal irritation or blockage. If you’re currently looking for a gerbil to adopt click here!